U.S. patent application number 12/947472 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-24 for apparatus and method for treatment of a contaminated water-based fluid.
This patent application is currently assigned to KOLMIR WATER TECHNOLOGIES LTD.. Invention is credited to Yuri KOLODNY.
Application Number | 20110284475 12/947472 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40935684 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110284475 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KOLODNY; Yuri |
November 24, 2011 |
Apparatus and Method for Treatment of a Contaminated Water-Based
Fluid
Abstract
An apparatus and method for controllable separation of a
purified fluid from a process water-based fluid containing at least
one contaminating component are described. The apparatus comprises
a housing having an inlet port for receiving the process
water-based fluid through a controllable inlet valve, an outlet
port for discharge of the purified fluid and a sludge port for
discharge of a sludge fluid. The apparatus also includes an
acoustic vibrator configured for generating a controllable acoustic
wave having at least one adjustable parameter selected from
frequency, amplitude and intensity. This acoustic vibrator creates
at least one layer in the process water-based fluid dividing the
process water-based fluid into a pre-filtered fluid and a sludge
fluid. This layer is substantially perpendicular to a flow
direction of said process water-based fluid. The layer comprises
hydroxide radicals and oxygen species reacting with the
contaminating component thereby transforming the component into
radical form and oxidizing the component thereby causing binding of
the component into insoluble aggregates which are precipitated
within the sludge fluid. In addition, the apparatus comprises a
filter unit disposed within the housing in a flow of the
pre-filtered fluid from the layer to the outlet port.
Inventors: |
KOLODNY; Yuri; (Tel Aviv,
IL) |
Assignee: |
KOLMIR WATER TECHNOLOGIES
LTD.
Jordan Valley
IL
|
Family ID: |
40935684 |
Appl. No.: |
12/947472 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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PCT/IL2009/000492 |
May 17, 2009 |
|
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12947472 |
|
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61056104 |
May 27, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/748.02 ;
210/198.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C02F 2101/301 20130101;
C02F 2209/11 20130101; C02F 2209/16 20130101; C02F 2209/055
20130101; C02F 2101/308 20130101; C02F 2209/001 20130101; C02F
2209/04 20130101; Y02A 20/144 20180101; C02F 1/36 20130101; C02F
2209/14 20130101; C02F 1/008 20130101; C02F 1/5236 20130101; C02F
2103/327 20130101; C02F 2209/20 20130101; Y02A 20/152 20180101;
C02F 2209/08 20130101; Y02A 20/131 20180101; C02F 2209/19 20130101;
C02F 2103/06 20130101; C02F 2103/001 20130101; C02F 2103/325
20130101; C02F 1/72 20130101; C02F 2301/022 20130101; C02F 1/34
20130101; C02F 2101/327 20130101; C02F 2101/345 20130101; C02F
2209/05 20130101; C02F 2209/10 20130101; C02F 2209/15 20130101;
C02F 2209/07 20130101; C02F 1/001 20130101; C02F 2103/007 20130101;
C02F 2209/003 20130101; C02F 2209/22 20130101; Y02A 20/156
20180101; C02F 9/00 20130101; C02F 2305/023 20130101; C02F 1/44
20130101; C02F 2103/08 20130101; C02F 2103/322 20130101; C02F
2209/29 20130101; C02F 1/004 20130101; C02F 2209/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/748.02 ;
210/198.1 |
International
Class: |
C02F 1/36 20060101
C02F001/36 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for controllable separation of a purified fluid
from a process water-based fluid containing at least one
contaminating component, comprising: a housing having an inlet port
for receiving the process water-based fluid through a controllable
inlet valve arranged at the inlet port and regulating a flow rate
of said process water-based fluid, an outlet port for release of
the purified fluid and a sludge port for discharge of a sludge
fluid; an acoustic vibrator configured for generating a
controllable acoustic wave having at least one adjustable parameter
selected from frequency, amplitude, intensity; wherein said
acoustic wave creates at least one layer in the process water-based
fluid dividing the process water-based fluid into a pre-filtered
fluid and the sludge fluid; said at least one layer is
substantially perpendicular to a flow direction of said process
water-based fluid, and comprises hydroxide radicals and oxygen
species including oxygen molecules in a singlet energy state and
oxygen molecules in a triplet energy state reacting with said at
least one contaminating component, thereby transforming the
component into radical form and oxidizing it thereby causing
binding of the component into insoluble aggregates which are
precipitated within the sludge fluid; wherein at least one
adjustable parameter is adjusted to provide such activation of
oxygen species that a concentration of the oxygen molecules being
in the singlet energy state is about three times greater than the
concentration of the oxygen molecules being in the triplet energy
state; and a filter unit disposed within said housing in a flow of
the pre-filtered fluid from said at least one layer to said outlet
port.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a control system connected
to the inlet valve and to the acoustic vibrator and configured for
controlling operation thereof, wherein said control system
comprises: an inlet sensing assembly including at least one sensor
mounted at the inlet port and configured for measuring at least one
inlet electro-chemical characteristic of the process water-based
fluid and producing at least one inlet sensor signal indicative of
said at least one inlet electro-chemical characteristic; said at
least one sensor is configured for measuring at least one inlet
chemical characteristic of the process water-based fluid and
producing at least one inlet sensor signal indicative of said at
least one inlet chemical characteristic; a controller operatively
coupled to the acoustic vibrator and to said at least one sensor
and to the inlet valve, the controller being responsive to said at
least one inlet sensor signal and being capable of generating
control signals for controlling operation of said acoustic vibrator
and said inlet valve.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one inlet
electro-chemical characteristic is selected from pH, zeta
potential, gamma potential, redox potential and electrical
conductivity; and wherein said at least one inlet chemical
characteristic is selected from an amount of total suspended
solids, total organic content, color index, total hardness,
carbonate hardness, oxidizability, iron concentration, dissolved
oxygen concentration, ammonia concentration, nitrite concentration,
nitrate concentration, alkalinity, fluorine concentration,
manganese concentration, silicium concentration, carbon dioxide
concentration, sulfate concentration, chloride concentration and
dry residue content.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one adjustable
parameter of said controllable acoustic wave and the flow rate
downstream of the inlet valve are calculated by using look-up
tables for the controllable separation of the purified fluid.
5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control system comprises
an outlet sensing assembly including at least one sensor mounted at
the outlet port and configured for measuring at least one outlet
electro-chemical characteristic of the purified fluid and for
producing at least one outlet sensor signal indicative of said at
least one outlet electro-chemical characteristic; said at least one
sensor is configured for measuring at least one outlet chemical
characteristic of the purified water-based fluid and producing at
least one outlet sensor signal indicative of said at least one
outlet chemical characteristic; said outlet sensing assembly being
operatively coupled to the controller, the controller being
responsive to said at least one outlet sensor signal.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said at least one
outlet electro-chemical characteristic is selected from pH, zeta
potential, gamma potential, redox potential and electrical
conductivity; and wherein said at least one outlet chemical
characteristic is selected from an amount of total suspended
solids, total organic content, color index, total hardness,
carbonate hardness, oxidizability, iron concentration, dissolved
oxygen concentration, ammonia concentration, nitrite concentration,
nitrate concentration, alkalinity, fluorine concentration,
manganese concentration, silicium concentration, carbon dioxide
concentration, sulfate concentration, chloride concentration and
dry residue content.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a flow damper disposed in
the flow of the process water-based fluid between said inlet port
and the filter unit, and configured for providing a substantially
laminar flow of said process water-based fluid.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said acoustic vibrator is
coupled to the filter unit for vibrating thereof, thereby creating
said at least one layer of high viscosity in the vicinity of the
filter unit; said at least one layer having an increased value for
second viscosity when compared with the value of the viscosity of
the process water-based fluid at the inlet port.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said acoustic vibrator
includes a vibrating membrane mounted in the flow of the process
water-based fluid upstream of the filter unit for creating said at
least one layer of high viscosity in the vicinity of said vibrating
membrane; said at least one layer having an increased value for
second viscosity when compared with the value of the viscosity of
the process water-based fluid at the inlet port.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 having such a configuration so as to
create a standing acoustic wave within the process water-based
fluid.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the process water-based fluid
is selected from groundwater, surface water, wastewater, industrial
effluent, municipal sewage, sewerage, recycled water, tertiary
wastewater, landfill leachate, saline water, milk, wine, beer,
juice and combinations thereof; and wherein said at least one
contaminating component is an organic contaminating component
selected from oil products, detergents, phenols, dyes, complexons,
complexonates, aromatic compounds, unsaturated organic compounds,
aldehydes, organic acids, polymers, hydrosols, biological particles
and colloidal matter.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said acoustic vibrator
includes a piezo active element.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said filter unit includes at
least one filter selected from a single media filter, a multi-media
filter, a diatomaceous earth filter, a cartridge filter, a membrane
filter and a granular filter.
14. A method for controllable separation of a purified fluid from a
process water-based fluid containing at least one contaminating
component, comprising: providing an apparatus including a housing
having an inlet port for receiving the process water-based fluid
through a controllable inlet valve arranged at the inlet port and
regulating a flow rate of said process water-based fluid, an outlet
port for release of the purified fluid and a sludge port for
discharge of a sludge fluid, a filter unit and an acoustic
vibrator; providing a flow of the process water-based fluid into
the housing through said controllable inlet valve and maintaining a
substantially laminar flow of the process water-based fluid within
the housing; generating an acoustic wave for creating at least one
layer in the process water-based fluid thereby dividing the process
water-based fluid into a pre-filtered fluid and the sludge fluid,
said acoustic wave having at least one adjustable parameter
selected from frequency, amplitude, and intensity; said at least
one layer is substantially perpendicular to a flow direction of
said process water-based fluid and comprises hydroxide radicals and
oxygen species reacting with said at least one contaminating
component thereby transforming the component into radical form and
oxidizing the component thereby causing binding of the
contaminating component into insoluble aggregates which are
precipitated within the sludge fluid; wherein said generating of
the acoustic wave includes adjusting said at least one adjustable
parameter in order to activate the oxygen species such that a
concentration of oxygen molecules in a singlet energy state is
about three times greater than the concentration of oxygen
molecules in a triplet energy state; directing a flow of the
pre-filtered fluid through the filter unit to obtain the purified
fluid downstream of the filter unit; releasing the purified fluid
from the housing through the outlet port; and discharging the
sludge fluid from the housing through the sludge port.
15. The method of claim 14 comprising controlling operation of the
inlet valve and the acoustic vibrator, wherein said controlling of
operation of the inlet valve and the acoustic vibrator includes:
measuring at least one of zeta potential, gamma potential, redox
potential and electrical conductivity of the process water-based
fluid at the inlet port; calculating said at least one adjustable
parameter of the controllable acoustic wave and the flow rate
downstream of the inlet valve by using look-up tables for the
controllable separation of the purified fluid; and regulating at
least one wave parameter selected from frequency, amplitude,
intensity of the acoustic wave produced by the acoustic vibrator
and the flow rate of the process water-based fluid downstream of
the inlet valve to match values of the wave parameters and the flow
rate obtained in said calculating.
16. The method of claim 14, comprising generating standing acoustic
waves within the process water-based fluid in the housing.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein a frequency of the acoustic
wave is in the range of about 15 kHz to about 300 kHz; an amplitude
of the acoustic wave is in the range of about 1 micrometer to about
10 micrometers; and an intensity of the acoustic wave is in the
range of about 0.1 W/cm.sup.2 to about 10 W/cm.sup.2.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one layer
features an increased value of a second viscosity when compared
with the viscosity of the process water-based fluid at the inlet
port.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one contaminating
component is an organic contaminating component selected from oil
products, detergents, phenols, dyes, complexons, complexonates,
aromatic compounds, unsaturated organic compounds, aldehydes,
organic acids, polymers, hydrosols, biological particles and
colloidal matter.
20. A method for controllable separation of a purified fluid from a
process water-based fluid containing at least one contaminating
component, comprising: passing said process water-based fluid
through at least one layer formed in the process water-based fluid
generated by an acoustic wave to divide the process water-based
fluid into a pre-filtered fluid and a sludge fluid, said at least
one layer comprising hydroxide radicals and oxygen species to react
with and oxidize said at least one contaminating component and
transforming the component into insoluble aggregates, wherein said
oxygen species include oxygen molecules in a singlet energy state
and oxygen molecules in a triplet energy state; a concentration of
the oxygen molecules being in the singlet energy state is about
three times greater than the concentration of oxygen molecules
being in the triplet energy state; and passing said pre-filtered
fluid through a filter unit to obtain the purified fluid downstream
of the filter unit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation application of
International Application PCT/IL2009/000492 filed on May 17, 2009,
which in turn claims priority to U.S. Provisional application
61/056,104 filed on May 27, 2008, both of which are to incorporated
herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a technique for the purification
of a contaminated water-based fluid, and more particularly to an
apparatus and method for treatment of a contaminated water-based
fluid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A significant amount of research and development has been
undertaken in recent years towards environmental clean-up
operations, and in particular to the treatment and purification of
various fluids. A variety of techniques have been used in prior art
to destroy and/or remove from the fluids various contaminating and
toxic components, such as oil products, detergents, phenols, dyes,
complexons, complexonates, aromatic compounds, unsaturated organic
compounds, aldehydes, organic acids, polymers, hydrosols,
biological particles, colloidal matter, etc. These techniques
generally utilize mechanical, physicochemical and/or biological
methods for treatment and purification of the fluids so that the
purified fluids can subsequently be returned to the environment.
These technologies generally employ various filters and utilize
various coagulants, flocculants, oxidants, acids, bases,
disinfectants, preservative agents, and deodorants in various
combinations to accomplish decontamination or purification of the
fluids.
[0004] The filtration of suspended particles is usually a very
difficult process, due to the strong interactions between the
particles and fluid. Conventional filtration can, for example,
utilize physical screening techniques (such as mechanical sieves,
beds of filtration media, and/or porous filters, in which the water
passes through pores with a size smaller than the size of the
particles being collected). Moreover, gravity-driven methods are
known which accomplish separation the fluid from the suspended
particles on the basis of the difference in the densities of the
particles and the fluid (such as centrifugal and settling
techniques).
[0005] One of the disadvantages of porous filters is associated
with clogging of the pores of the filter by larger particles which
cannot pass through the pores. Moreover, owing to an electric
charge, even the particles with sizes smaller than the size of the
filter pores can be clogged within the pores, due to the adhesion
of the particles to the filter. As a consequence of the clogging,
either the flow rate of the fluid has to be gradually increased or
a frequent flushing of the filters is necessary. However,
increasing the fluid flow rate can push through the filter even
larger particles which would not pass through the pores at the
original fluid flow rate.
[0006] As soon as the filter is clogged, it cannot provide
sufficient filtering. As a result, the filtering process can be
interrupted, until the filter is cleaned, e.g., by flushing with
clean water. These interruptions of the filtering process lead to
loss of efficiency of filtering, making the process expensive, and
possibly requiring additional components for the filter system.
[0007] Various filter systems based on acoustic methods are known
for filtrating of contaminated fluids and cleaning filters.
[0008] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,797,158 issued to Fekke et al.
suggests a method and apparatus for acoustically enhanced particle
separation. The apparatus uses a chamber through which flows a
fluid containing particles to be separated. A porous medium is
disposed within the chamber. A transducer mounted on one wall of
the chamber is powered to impose on the porous medium an acoustic
field that is resonant to the chamber when filled with the fluid.
Under the influence of the resonant acoustic field, the porous
medium is able to trap particles substantially smaller than the
average pore size of the medium. When the acoustic field is
deactivated, the flowing fluid flushes the trapped particles from
the porous medium and regenerates the medium.
[0009] U.S. Pat. Application No. 2004/0188332 issued to Haydock
discloses a self-cleaning/self-purging ceramic, telflon-copolymer
composite filter which is capable of continuous and/or intermittent
cleaning. The filter can be cleaned either continuously or
intermittently by ultrasound vibration and/or backpressure within
the filter system.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 7,282,147 issued to Kicker et al. discloses a
filtration system with hollow membrane filter elements that is
operable to remove relatively high concentrations of solids,
particulate and colloidal matter from a process fluid. Acoustic,
vibration and ultrasonic energy may be used to clean exterior
portions of the hollow membrane filter elements to allow
substantially continuous filtration of process fluids.
[0011] WO 2007/094666 issued to Dortmans et al. discloses a filter
apparatus comprising a product inlet, a filtrate outlet and a
porous stiff filter structure. The filter structure separates the
product inlet from the filtrate outlet. An ultrasonic actuator is
provided that is directly mechanically coupled to the porous stiff
filter structure. The actuator is arranged for imparting in-plane
vibrational waves to the porous stiff filter structure.
[0012] It should be noted that when a filter is interposed to the
fluid flow through which the contaminated fluid can pass, the
filtrate material of the fluid is retained on the filter and
eventually clogs it up.
[0013] Acoustic filtering methods based on the use of ultrasonic
standing wave fields have also been developed for separation of
particles from the water-based fluid without using porous filters.
These methods provide the changes in density and/or compressibility
of the volume of fluid which contains contaminating particles.
These changes of density and/or compressibility can be used for
separation of the contaminant particles from the fluid.
[0014] In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,491 issued to
Porath-Furedi discloses an apparatus and method that use ultrasonic
standing waves for removing microscopic particles from a liquid
medium. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic generator propagating
ultrasonic waves of over one megahertz through the liquid medium to
cause the flocculation of the microscopic particles at spaced
points. The ultrasonic waves are propagated in the horizontal
direction through the liquid medium, and baffle plates are disposed
below the level of propagation of the ultrasonic waves. The baffles
are oriented to provide a high resistance to the horizontal
propagation therethrough of the ultrasonic waves and a
low-resistance to the vertical settling therethrough of the
flocculated particles. The ultrasonic generator is periodically
energized to flocculate the particles, and then de-energized to
permit the settling of the flocculated particles through the baffle
plates from whence they are removed.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,767 issued to Trampler et al. discloses
a multilayered composite resonator system for separation and
recycling of particulate material suspended in a fluid by means of
an ultrasonic resonance wave. The system includes a transducer, a
suspension and a mirror. Acoustic radiation force moves the
particles in the liquid towards the nodes or antinodes of the
standing wave. Secondary lateral acoustic forces cause them to
aggregate and the aggregates settle by gravity out of the
liquid.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
[0016] Despite the prior art in the area of treatment and
purification of various fluids, there is still a need in the art
for further improvement in order to provide a method and apparatus
for effective treatment of water-based fluids from suspended
contaminating components, such as oil products, detergents,
phenols, dyes, complexons, complexonates, aromatic compounds,
unsaturated organic compounds, aldehydes, organic acids, polymers,
hydrosols, biological particles and colloidal matter.
[0017] It would be advantageous to have a method and apparatus
which has a high efficiency of treatment and a deep level of
purification.
[0018] It would further be useful to have a method and apparatus
which is able to reduce consumption of chemicals such as coagulants
and flocculants which are commonly utilized for fluid
treatment.
[0019] It would still further be advantageous to increase the
precipitate formation rate, reduce the time and increase the
efficiency of removal of non-soluble precipitates from the fluid,
when compared to the prior art techniques.
[0020] The present invention satisfies the aforementioned need by
providing a novel apparatus and method for separation of a purified
fluid from a process water-based fluid. The term "process
water-based fluid" is broadly used to describe any water-based
fluid containing one or more contaminating components. Examples of
the process water-based fluid include, but are not limited to,
groundwater, surface water, wastewater, industrial effluent,
municipal sewage, sewerage, recycled water, tertiary wastewater,
landfill leachate, saline water, milk, wine, beer, juice and
combinations thereof.
[0021] According to one general aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an apparatus for a controllable separation of a
purified fluid from a process water-based fluid containing at least
one contaminating component. The apparatus comprises a housing
having an inlet port for receiving the process water-based fluid
through a controllable inlet valve, an outlet port for discharge of
the purified fluid, and a sludge port for discharge of a sludge
fluid.
[0022] The apparatus also comprises an acoustic vibrator which is
configured for generating a controllable acoustic wave having at
least one adjustable parameter selected from frequency, amplitude
and intensity. The acoustic wave creates at least one layer in the
process water-based fluid thereby dividing the process water-based
fluid into a pre-filtered fluid and a sludge fluid. The layer(s)
is(are) substantially perpendicular to the flow direction of said
process water-based fluid and comprise(s) hydroxide radicals and
oxygen species. These hydroxide radicals and oxygen species can
react with the contaminating component thereby transforming the
component into radical form and oxidizing it. The component
radicals bind each other and other contaminating components thus
forming insoluble aggregates which are precipitated in the sludge
fluid. The apparatus also comprises a filter unit disposed within
the housing in a flow of the pre-filtered fluid from the layer to
the outlet port.
[0023] According to some embodiments of the present invention, this
layer features increased second viscosity when compared with the
viscosity of the process water-based fluid at the inlet port.
[0024] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
acoustic vibrator can be selected from at least one of an
ultrasonic energy vibrator and sonic energy vibrator. Preferably,
the acoustic vibrator can include a piezo active element.
[0025] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
acoustic vibrator can be coupled to the filter unit for vibrating
thereof, thereby creating the layer mentioned hereinbefore in the
vicinity of the filter unit.
[0026] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the acoustic vibrator includes a vibrating membrane mounted in the
flow of the process fluid upstream of the filter unit for creating
the layer in the vicinity of the vibrating membrane.
[0027] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
apparatus has such a configuration as to create a standing acoustic
wave within the process water-based fluid.
[0028] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a
frequency of the acoustic wave is in the range of about 15 kHz to
about 300 kHz.
[0029] According to some embodiments of the present invention,
amplitude of the acoustic wave is in the range of about 1
micrometer to about 10 micrometers.
[0030] According to some embodiments of the present invention, an
intensity of the acoustic wave is in the range of about 0.1
W/cm.sup.2 to about 10 W/cm.sup.2.
[0031] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
adjustable parameters selected from frequency, amplitude and
intensity of the acoustic wave are selected to provide such
activation of oxygen species that a concentration of oxygen
molecules in the singlet energy state is about three times greater
than the concentration of oxygen molecules in the triplet energy
state.
[0032] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
apparatus can comprise a flow damper which is disposed in the flow
of the process water-based fluid between said inlet port and the
filter unit and configured for providing a substantially laminar
flow of said process water-based fluid.
[0033] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
filter unit includes at least one filter selected from the
following: a single media filter, a multi-media filter, a
diatomaceous earth filter, a cartridge filter, a membrane filter
and a granular filter.
[0034] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
apparatus can include a control system which is connected to the
inlet valve and to the acoustic vibrator and configured for
controlling operation thereof. This control system comprises an
inlet sensing assembly and a controller.
[0035] The inlet sensing assembly includes at least one sensor
which is mounted at the inlet port and configured for measuring one
or more inlet electro-chemical characteristics of the process
water-based fluid. The inlet electro-chemical characteristics can,
for example, be pH, zeta potential, gamma potential, redox
potential and electrical conductivity. When desired, the sensor can
produce one or more inlet sensor signals indicative of the inlet
electro-chemical characteristic.
[0036] In addition, this sensor can be configured for measuring one
or more inlet chemical characteristics of the process water-based
fluid and producing at least one inlet sensor signal indicative of
this inlet chemical characteristic(s). The inlet chemical
characteristics can, for example, be a total suspended solids
(TSS), total organic content (TOC), color index, total hardness,
carbonate hardness, oxidizability, iron concentration, dissolved
oxygen concentration, ammonia concentration, nitrite concentration,
nitrate concentration, alkalinity, fluorine concentration,
manganese concentration, silicium concentration, carbon dioxide
concentration, sulfate concentration, chloride concentration and
dry residue content.
[0037] The controller is operatively coupled to the acoustic
vibrator and to said at least one sensor and to the inlet valve.
Thus, the controller is responsive to the inlet sensor signal and
is capable of generating control signals for controlling operation
of at least one of the acoustic vibrator and the inlet valve. These
parameters and the flow rate downstream of the inlet valve are
calculated by using look-up tables for the controllable separation
of the purified fluid.
[0038] When desired, the control system can comprise an outlet
sensing assembly including at least one sensor mounted at the
outlet port. This sensor is configured for measuring one or more
outlet electro-chemical characteristics of the purified fluid and
for producing one or more outlet sensor signals indicative of the
outlet electro-chemical characteristics. The outlet
electro-chemical characteristic can, for example, be pH, zeta
potential, gamma potential, redox potential and electrical
conductivity. In addition, this sensor can be configured for
measuring one or more outlet chemical characteristics of the
purified fluid and for producing one or more outlet sensor signals
indicative of the outlet chemical characteristics. The outlet
chemical characteristics can, for example, be total suspended
solids, total organic content, color index, total hardness,
carbonate hardness, oxidizability, iron concentration, dissolved
oxygen concentration, ammonia concentration, nitrite concentration,
nitrate concentration, alkalinity, fluorine concentration,
manganese concentration, silicium concentration, carbon dioxide
concentration, sulfate concentration, chloride concentration and
dry residue content. The outlet sensing assembly can be operatively
coupled to the controller, which is responsive to the outlet sensor
signals.
[0039] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
apparatus can include one or more control valves adapted for
regulating the flow rate at the outlet port. The control valves at
the outlet port are responsive to the control signals generated by
the control system.
[0040] According to another general aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method for controllable separation
of a purified fluid from a process water-based fluid containing at
least one contaminating component. The method comprises providing
an apparatus which includes a housing having an inlet port for
receiving the process water-based fluid through a controllable
inlet valve arranged at the inlet port and regulating a flow rate
of said process water-based fluid, an outlet port for discharge of
the purified fluid and a sludge port for discharge of a sludge
fluid, a filter unit and an acoustic vibrator.
[0041] The method also comprises providing a flow of the process
water-based fluid into the housing through said controllable inlet
valve and generating an acoustic wave for creating at least one
layer in the process water-based fluid thereby dividing the process
water-based fluid into a pre-filtered fluid and a sludge fluid. The
acoustic wave has at least one adjustable parameter selected from
frequency, amplitude, and intensity. The layer is substantially
perpendicular to a flow direction of the process water-based fluid
and comprises hydroxide radicals and oxygen species reacting with
the contaminating component(s), thereby transforming the component
into radical form and oxidizing the component. The component
radicals bind each other and other contaminating components into
insoluble aggregates which are, as a result, precipitated within
the sludge fluid that is further discharged from the housing
through the sludge port. Accordingly, flow of the pre-filtered
fluid is directed through the filter unit in order to obtain the
purified fluid downstream of the filter. Further, the purified
fluid is discharged from the housing through the outlet port.
[0042] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
generating of the acoustic wave includes adjusting at least one
adjustable parameter in order to activate the oxygen species such
that a concentration of oxygen molecules in the singlet energy
state is about three times greater than the concentration of oxygen
molecules in the triplet energy state.
[0043] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
method comprises creating a substantially laminar flow of the
process water-based fluid through the housing.
[0044] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
method can also comprise controlling operation of the inlet valve
and of the acoustic vibrator. This controlling can include steps of
measuring at least one of zeta potential, gamma potential, redox
potential and electrical conductivity of the process water-based
fluid at the inlet port; calculating one or more adjustable
parameters of the controllable acoustic wave and the flow rate
downstream of the inlet valve by using look-up tables for the
controllable separation of the purified fluid; and regulating the
wave parameters and the flow rate of the process water-based fluid
downstream of the inlet valve in order to match values of the wave
parameters and the flow rate obtained in the calculations. The
acoustic wave is produced by the acoustic vibrator and features one
or more parameters selected from frequency, amplitude and
intensity. In operation, the controlling can include measuring of
at least one of an amount of total suspended solids, total organic
content, color index, total hardness, carbonate hardness,
oxidizability, iron concentration, dissolved oxygen concentration,
ammonia concentration, nitrite concentration, nitrate
concentration, alkalinity, fluorine concentration, manganese
concentration, silicium concentration, carbon dioxide
concentration, sulfate concentration, chloride concentration and
dry residue content of the process water-based fluid at the inlet
port.
[0045] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a
method for controllable separation of a purified fluid from a
process water-based fluid comprises passing the process water-based
fluid through at least one layer formed in the process water-based
fluid generated by an acoustic wave in order to divide the process
water-based fluid into a pre-filtered fluid and a sludge fluid.
Further, the pre-filtered fluid is passed through a filter unit to
obtain the purified fluid downstream of the filter unit.
[0046] The method and apparatus of the present invention have many
of the advantages of the techniques mentioned theretofore, while
simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally
associated therewith.
[0047] In contrast to known acoustic methods for fluid treatment,
the method and apparatus of the present invention control the
continuity of the chain reaction of radical formation, oxidation
and coagulation of the contaminating components. The absence of
such control leads to spontaneous breakdown of the radical chain
reaction and formation of reactive, highly poisonous and
carcinogenic compounds.
[0048] The method and apparatus of the present invention purify the
treated fluid from low contaminating components whose size can, for
example, be about 20 micrometers.
[0049] The method and apparatus of the present invention increase
the time and exploitation efficiencies of utilized filter
units.
[0050] The method and apparatus of the present invention allow
increasing the flow rate of the process fluid through the filter
thereby enhancing the overall process of the fluid
purification.
[0051] The method and apparatus of the present invention can be
applied for disinfection of the process water-based fluid.
[0052] The method and apparatus of the present invention are highly
economical and operate with minimal losses of energy and
chemicals.
[0053] The apparatus according to the present invention may be
easily and efficiently fabricated and marketed.
[0054] The apparatus according to the present invention is of
durable and reliable construction.
[0055] The apparatus according to the present invention may have a
low manufacturing cost.
[0056] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention so that the detailed
description thereof that follows hereinafter may be better
understood, and the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated. Additional details and advantages of the invention
will be set forth in the detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0057] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may
be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by
way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0058] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus for separation of
a purified fluid from a process water-based fluid containing
contaminating components, according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0059] FIG. 2 is a schematic presentation of the separation
mechanism of the purified fluid from a process water-based fluid
which takes place in the vicinity of the filter unit of the
apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
[0060] FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration of an apparatus for
separation of a purified fluid from a process water-based fluid
containing contaminating components, according to another
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0061] FIG. 4 is a non-limiting example of a system for separation
of the purified fluid from the process water-based fluid utilizing
the apparatus of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0062] The principles of the method according to the present
invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings
and the accompanying description, wherein like reference numerals
have been used throughout to designate identical elements. It
should be understood that these drawings, which are not necessarily
to scale, are given for illustrative purposes only, and are not
intended to limit the scope of the invention. Examples of
constructions and manufacturing processes are provided for selected
elements. Those versed in the art should appreciate that many of
the examples provided have suitable alternatives which may be
utilized.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a schematic view of
an apparatus 10 for separation of a purified fluid from a process
water-based fluid containing one or more contaminating components,
according to one embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus
10 includes a housing 11, an acoustic wave vibrator 16 adapted for
generating acoustic waves within the process water-based fluid in
the housing 11, and a filter unit 18 disposed in the housing
11.
[0064] The term "housing" is broadly used to describe any
container, tank, chamber, vessel, cartridge, surrounding housing,
frame assembly or any other structure that can be used for holding
the process water-based fluid during the treatment in accordance
with the teaching of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG.
1, the housing 11 has an inlet port 111 for receiving the process
water-based fluid therethrough, an outlet port 112 for discharging
the purified fluid, and a sludge port 113 for discharging sludge
fluid.
[0065] In operation, the process water-based fluid flows through an
inlet pipe 13, and enters the housing 11 through the inlet port
111. After a separation procedure, as will be described
thereinafter, the purified fluid flows out of the housing 11
through the outlet port 112 into an outlet pipe 15. In turn, the
sludge fluid is collected from the sludge port 113 and fed into a
sludge-collection pipe 14. When desired, the sludge-collection pipe
14 can be associated with a wastewater system (not shown).
Accordingly, the sludge can be further dewatered by a filter-press
(not shown) arranged downstream of the sludge-collection pipe 14,
and after the dewatering, it can be packed and stored.
[0066] Preferably, a controllable inlet valve 131, a controllable
outlet valve 132 and a controllable sludge valve 133 are disposed
in the vicinity of the inlet port 111, the outlet port 112 and the
sludge port 112, respectively. The inlet valve 131, the outlet
valve 132 and the sludge valve 133 are configured to regulate the
flow rate of the process water-based fluid, the purified fluid and
the sludge fluid, respectively. The term "valve" as used herein has
a broad meaning and relates to any electrical or mechanical device
adapted to regulate the flow rate of the fluid.
[0067] The acoustic wave vibrator 16 is configured and operable for
generating a controllable acoustic wave. According to one
embodiment of the present invention, the acoustic wave vibrator 16
includes a generator 161, a transducer 163 coupled to the generator
161 via a connecting line 162, and a vibrating element 165 coupled
to the transducer 163 via a transmitting line 164. The vibrating
element 165 is associated with the filter unit 18 for vibrating the
filter unit in accordance with the operative principle as will be
described thereinafter.
[0068] According to one embodiment, the generator 161 generates a
periodic electrical signal either at ultrasonic or sonic
frequencies. The waveform of the signal can, for example, be
sinusoidal at frequencies in the range of about 15 kHz to about 300
kHz. Amplitude of the acoustic wave can be in the range of about 1
micrometer to about 10 micrometers, and an intensity of the
acoustic wave can be in the range of about 0.1 W/cm.sup.2 to about
10 W/cm.sup.2.
[0069] It should be understood that the waveform of the electrical
signal generated by the generator 161 can generally have any
desired shape. Examples of the shape include, but are not limited
to, a triangular, square or any other required geometric shape. The
signal characteristics can be adjusted manually and/or
automatically as will be described hereinafter.
[0070] According to one embodiment, the connecting line 162 which
couples the transducer 163 to the generator 161 includes a wire.
According to another embodiment, this connection can be provided
wirelessly, mutatis mutandis. The transducer 163 is configured for
transforming electrical energy provided by the generator 161 into
mechanical energy. Accordingly, it receives the electrical signal
produced by the generator 161 and transforms this signal into
corresponding mechanical vibrations, which are transferred to the
vibrating element 165 via the transmitting line 164. The
transmitting line 164 can, for example, include a stiff or elastic
rod attached to the transducer 163 at one end of the rod and to the
vibrating element 165 at the other end of the rod. For transferring
mechanical vibrations, the rod can perform reciprocal and/or
rotating movements.
[0071] According to one embodiment, the vibrating element 165 is
mechanically attached to the filter unit 18 so as to not restrict
the flow of the fluid through the filter unit. In this case, the
filter unit 18 can participate in vibrations together with the
vibrating element 165 and produce acoustic waves within the process
water-based fluid. As will be described thereinbelow, these
vibrations can create layers within the fluid that have an
increased second viscosity, when compared to the viscosity of the
process water-based fluid at the inlet port. These layers are
usually formed in the vicinity of the filter unit 18, and include
hydroxide radicals and various forms of oxygen that can oxidize the
contaminating components, and thereby cause their coagulation.
Consequently, the process water-based fluid, after passing through
these layers, is divided into pre-filtered fluid and sludge
fluid.
[0072] According to another embodiment, the vibrating element 165
is arranged in the flow of the process water-based fluid upstream
of the filter unit 18 and is not directly attached to the filter
unit 18. In this case, the vibrating element 165 includes a
vibrating membrane (not shown) configured to create the layers
having an increased second viscosity and including hydroxide
radicals and various forms of oxygen in the vicinity of this
vibrating membrane.
[0073] According to a further embodiment, the housing 11 includes a
flow damper 19 disposed within the flow of the process water-based
fluid downstream of the inlet port 111 to provide a laminar flow of
the process water-based fluid. The flow damper 19 can include any
flow control unit (not shown) that is configured and operable to
produce a substantially laminar flow of the process water-based
fluid through the housing. In the simplest case, as shown in FIG.
1, the flow damper 19 can include a plate mounted to the housing
and arranged within the fluid flow for dampering the flow. It
should be relevant to note here that although the flow of the
process water-based fluid on the macroscopic scale level should
preferably be a laminar flow, nevertheless, as will be described
hereinbelow, this flow should possess a certain turbulence of the
flow on the microscopic scale (i.e., ion-scale) level. Such
microscopic turbulence within the present application will be
referred to as "quasi-turbulence".
[0074] The filter unit 18 is disposed in a flow of the pre-filtered
fluid downstream of the layers formed in the fluid by the acoustic
wave vibrator 16. The filter unit 18 is configured and operated for
filtering and separation of contaminating components in the
pre-filtered fluid which are left after passing the process
water-based fluid through the layers.
[0075] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the filter unit
is a planar filter unit mounted to walls of the housing 11 between
the inlet port 111 and the outlet port 112. It should be understood
that the filter unit is not limited to any particular
implementation. Examples of the filter units include, but are not
limited to, one or more filters selected from single media filters,
multi-media filters, diatomaceous earth filters, cartridge filters,
membrane filters, granular filters, etc. When desired, any
combination of the filters of various types can be used.
[0076] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
apparatus 10 includes a control system 17 coupled to the acoustic
vibrator 16 and the controllable inlet valve 131 and configured for
controlling operation thereof. The control system 17 can be set up
either automatically or manually to control operation of the
acoustic vibrator 16 to provide acoustic signals having desired
characteristics and to control operation of the controllable inlet
valve 131 to regulate flow rate of the process water-based
fluid.
[0077] According to one embodiment, the control system 17 includes
a controller 171 and an inlet sensing assembly 172 coupled to the
controller 171. The inlet sensing assembly 172 includes one or more
chemical and/or electro-chemical sensors configured for measuring
of chemical and/or electro-chemical properties of the process
water-based fluid. Examples of the electro-chemical properties
include, but are not limited to, pH, zeta potential, gamma
potential, redox potential and electrical conductivity of the
fluid.
[0078] For the purpose of the present application, the redox
potential is the electric potential measured within the process
fluid with a reference electrode. When desired, this value can also
be calculated on the base of the calculation of a motion of charged
particles in the process water-based fluid by using a pH meter or
cytopherometer. This technique is known per se and will not be
expounded hereinbelow.
[0079] In turn, examples of the chemical properties include, but
are not limited to, total suspended solids (TSS) concentration,
total organic content (TOC), color index, total hardness, carbonate
hardness, oxidizability, iron concentration, dissolved oxygen
concentration, ammonia concentration, nitrite concentration,
nitrate concentration, fluorine concentration, manganese
concentration, silicium concentration, carbon dioxide
concentration, sulfate concentration, chloride concentration,
alkalinity, and dry residue content.
[0080] The inlet sensing assembly 172 produces inlet sensor signals
indicative of one or more aforementioned fluid properties and
relays them to the controller 171 via a wire or wirelessly. The
controller 171 is an electronic device that generates control
signals to control operation of the acoustic vibrator 16, and, when
required, the operation of the inlet valve 131.
[0081] According to a further embodiment, the control system 17
includes an outlet sensor assembly 173 installed at the outlet port
112, in order to control the quality of the purified fluid. The
outlet sensing assembly 173 includes one or more sensors configured
for measuring chemical and/or electro-chemical properties of the
purified fluid. These properties can be similar to the properties
which are measured by the inlet sensing assembly 172. Accordingly,
the outlet sensing assembly 173 measures the properties and
produces one or more outlet sensor signals indicative to these
properties. These signals are relayed to the controller 171 via
electrical wire or wirelessly. In response to the outlet sensor
signals, the controller 171 generates corresponding control signals
to control operation of the acoustic vibrator 16, and when required
to control operation of the inlet valve 131 and/or the outlet valve
132.
[0082] Generally, a method for controllable separation of a
purified fluid from a process water-based fluid comprises passing
the process water-based fluid through at least one layer formed in
the process water-based fluid generated by an acoustic wave in
order to divide the process water-based fluid into a pre-filtered
fluid and a sludge fluid. Further, the pre-filtered fluid is passed
through a filter unit to obtain the purified fluid downstream of
the filter unit.
[0083] Specifically, the process water-based fluid enters the
housing 11 of the apparatus 10 through the inlet port 111. The
ingress of fluid is controlled by the controllable inlet valve 131
arranged at the inlet port 111. The acoustic vibrator 16 generates
adjustable acoustic waves within the process water-based fluid
featuring one or more adjustable parameters. Examples of the
adjustable parameters include, but are not limited to, the
frequency, amplitude, and intensity of the acoustic wave and the
time during which the fluid should be exposed to the acoustic wave.
It should be noted that the exposing time should preferably be
equal or greater than the life-time of hydroxide radicals from
their formation till their reaction with contaminating
components.
[0084] The waveform of the acoustic waves can, for example, be
sinusoidal. The frequencies of the wave can be in the range of
about 15 kHz to about 300 kHz. Amplitude of the acoustic wave can
be in the range of about 1 micrometer to about 10 micrometers, and
an intensity of the acoustic wave can be in the range of about 0.1
W/cm.sup.2 to about 10 W/cm.sup.2.
[0085] Preferably, but not mandatory, the generated acoustic wave
is a standing wave. The acoustic waves having the parameters
indicated above may propagate substantially perpendicular to a flow
direction of the fluid and create one or more layers extending
substantially perpendicular to the flow direction. The layers
feature an increased second viscosity due to the acoustic
vibrations emitted into the water-based process fluid. When
entering these layers, the contaminating components react with the
radicals and oxygen, thereby transforming the contaminating
components into radical and oxidized forms. These radical and
oxidized forms react and bind to each other and to other
contaminating components, thereby forming insoluble aggregates,
which thereafter are precipitated as sludge that can be discharged
through the sludge port 113. A concentration of the contaminating
particles decreases as long as the flow of the process water-based
fluid progresses through the layers towards the filter unit 18. In
other words, the layers divide the process water-based fluid into a
pre-filtered fluid and a sludge fluid. After passing through the
layers, a minor portion of the contaminating components can still
be present within the pre-filtered fluid. Accordingly, this portion
of the contaminating components can reach the filter unit 18 where
the pre-filtered fluid can be further filtered. A purified fluid
obtained downstream of the filter unit 18 can be discharged from
the housing 11 through the outlet port 112.
[0086] It should be noted that acoustic waves generated within
fluid containing contaminating particles can generally produce
either a favorable or detrimental result. In particular, when the
wave parameters are selected arbitrarily and uncontrollably, the
acoustic waves may induce uncontrollable cavitation of the fluid
that consequently may lead to a hydrodynamic turbulence in the
fluid flow. However, the hydrodynamic turbulence can lead to the
breakdown of the fluid, and to the dissipation and loss of energy.
Likewise, the hydrodynamic turbulence may result in breaking the
radical chain reaction taking place within the fluid, and,
consequently, in a non-controllable decrease of the concentration
of active hydroxide radicals. Such a non-controllable decrease of
the concentration of active hydroxide radicals may lead to the
formation of reactive, highly poisonous and carcinogenic
compounds.
[0087] On the other hand, when a `quasi-turbulence` is created in
the macroscopically laminar flow of the process fluid by the
acoustic waves, the radical chain reaction taking place within the
fluid can be completed and a required concentration of active
hydroxide radicals will be obtained. A laminar flow with specific
distortions within the layers will be referred within the present
description to as a `quasi-turbulent` flow. The quasi-turbulence
does not have hydrodynamic nature, but rather ion-acoustic nature
of the turbulence. Such a quasi-turbulent flow provides a uniform
dissipation of the propagated energy in predetermined locations
(layers) within the process fluid.
[0088] Referring to FIG. 2, an enlarged view of the section
indicated in FIG. 1 by reference numeral 20 is illustrated. For
convenience of understanding, FIG. 2 shows the separation of the
purified fluid from a process water-based fluid in the vicinity of
the filter unit 18. The process water-based fluid flows through the
housing 11 towards the filter unit 18, in a direction marked by
arrows 201. As described, the process water-based fluid contains
one or more organic contaminating components 211 suspended in the
fluid. Generally, the contaminating components 211 can have various
forms, shapes, electrical charges, structures, and other
properties. Negatively charged components 211 (herein designated by
symbol R.sup.-) are surrounded by cations, such as hydroxide
H.sub.3O.sup.+, hydron H.sup.+, etc. In turn, positively charged
components 211 (herein designated by symbol R.sup.+) are surrounded
by anions, e.g., OH.sup.-.
[0089] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the vibration
element 165 is attached to the filter unit 18 for generating
acoustic waves having predetermined characteristics described
above. The acoustic waves concentrate energy in the layers 21 which
are formed substantially perpendicular to a flow direction of the
process water-based fluid. The layers 21 feature, inter alia, an
increased second viscosity when compared to the viscosity of the
process water-based fluid at the inlet port. It should be
understood that layer 21a that is closest to the filter unit 18
should have the highest second viscosity. The other layers 21
located apart from filter unit 18 have smaller second viscosity
value, owing to the decay of the acoustic energy propagating
through the fluid from the filter unit 18.
[0090] The energy concentrated in the layers 21 should be
sufficient to activate the oxygen dissolved in the fluid, and to
initiate energetically unstable reactions of the process
water-based fluid, and thereby to yield unstable intermediate
matters and radicals within the layers. More specifically, the
energy concentrated in the layers 21 yields various oxygen species
that can be in the following forms: atomic (O), and molecular
(O.sub.2 and O.sub.3). O.sub.2 molecules can be formed either in a
singlet energy state or in a triplet energy state. It was found by
the Applicants that a concentration of oxygen molecules in a
singlet energy state should, preferably, be about three times
greater than the concentration of oxygen molecules in a triplet
energy state. In this case a continuous chain reaction can take
place within the layers 21 that controllably provides various
hydroxide radicals, such as OH., HO.sub.2. and H.sub.2O.sub.3.,
which are necessary for oxidation and formation of radicals of
contaminating components that can aggregate and precipitate as
sludge fluid. The sludge fluid contains aggregates of contaminating
components most of which can settle at the bottom of the housing
(11 in FIG. 1) under gravity, and thus will not reach the filter
unit 18.
[0091] More specifically, the hydroxide radicals OH., HO.sub.2. and
H.sub.2O.sub.3. can for example be formed as result of the
following reactions:
2H.sub.2O+O.sub.22H.sub.2O.sub.2 (1)
H.sub.2OOH.+H.sup.+ (2)
2OH.HO.sub.2.+H.sup.+ (3)
OH.+O.sub.3HO.sub.2.+O.sub.2 (4)
HO.sub.2.+H.sub.2O.sub.2OH.+H.sub.2O+O.sub.2 (5)
2HO.sub.2.+O.sub.22H.sub.2O.sub.3. (6)
[0092] When the contaminating components enter the layers, the
components start to react with hydroxide radicals (OH., HO.sub.2.
and H.sub.2O.sub.3.) and oxygen (O, O.sub.2 and/or O.sub.3) in
radical chain reactions.
[0093] According to one non-limiting example, the radical chain
reactions can include the following steps:
[0094] 1) The Initiation Step:
[0095] In this step, the hydroxide radicals react with the
contaminating components, thereby forming a radical R. of the
contaminating component.
##STR00001## HO.sub.2.+RH.fwdarw.R.+H.sub.2O.sub.2 (8)
2H.sub.2O.sub.3.+2RH.fwdarw.2R.+3H.sub.2O.sub.2, (9)
where RH is the organic compound of the contaminating component,
and R. is the radical of the organic compound, i.e. the organic
compound with an unpaired electron.
[0096] The rate k.sub.1 of reaction (7) can be in the range of
10.sup.9 l/mols to 10.sup.10 l/mols. The Applicants found that the
rates of reactions (8) and (9) are significantly lower than
k.sub.1. Accordingly, the role of the radicals R. obtained in these
reactions can be neglected in the estimation of the radical chain
reaction dynamics.
[0097] 2) The Oxidation and Propagation Reaction Steps:
[0098] In these steps, the radical of the organic compound is
oxidized by oxygen (reaction (10) to produce an oxidized radical
ROO., to wit:
##STR00002##
where k.sub.2 can be in the range of about 10.sup.7 l/mols to about
10.sup.8 l/mols.
[0099] Thereafter, the oxidized radical ROO. reacts with another
organic compound in a redox propagation reaction, to wit:
##STR00003##
where k.sub.3 can be in the range of about 210.sup.4 l/mols to
about 210.sup.6 l/mols.
[0100] 3) The Step of Branching of the Reaction Pathway:
[0101] In this step, the contaminating components are transformed
into radical forms, in accordance with the following reaction:
##STR00004##
where k.sub.4 can be in the range of about 10.sup.-7 l/mols to
3.510.sup.-6 l/mols.
[0102] Notwithstanding the very minor rate constant of this
reaction, the branching step reveals an appearance of new OH.
radicals which can initiate new chain reactions.
[0103] 4) The Chain Termination Step:
[0104] In this step, the contaminant radicals (each having one
unpaired electron) can react and bind together, i.e. to participate
in heterocoagulation in accordance with reactions (13)-(15),
thereby forming relatively large and heavy insoluble aggregates
(212 in FIG. 2) that can precipitate to form sludge fluid, to
wit:
R.+R..fwdarw.R--R (13)
R.+ROO..fwdarw.R--ROO (14)
ROO.+ROO..fwdarw.ROO--ROO (15)
[0105] The constant rates of reactions (13)-(15) are around
10.sup.6 l/mols. The rate of these processes is controlled by the
rates k.sub.2 and k.sub.3 of the propagation and oxidation
reactions (10) and (11), respectively. It should be noted that the
rates of reactions (10)-(15) depend on the concentrations of the
radicals (R., and ROO.). The rate of the entire chain reaction
formed by the sequence (7)-(15) is mainly limited by oxidation
reaction (10), since the oxygen concentration in the process
water-based fluid is limited by the oxygen dissolved in the
fluid.
[0106] As was described above, a concentration of oxygen molecules
in the singlet energy state should, preferably, be about three
times greater than the concentration of oxygen molecules in the
triplet energy state (this condition, hereinafter, will be referred
to as "1:3 relation"). When the 1:3 relation is not met, the
continuity of the chain reaction formed by the sequence (7)-(15)
can be interrupted. In turn, the interruption of the continuity of
the chain reaction can result in spontaneous formation of reactive,
highly poisonous and carcinogenic compounds, such as halogen
organic compounds, e.g., trihalomethanes.
[0107] In order to reach the desired 1:3 relation between the
concentrations of energetically excited oxygen molecules, several
physical parameters of the acoustic wave should be controlled.
Examples of the physical parameters of the acoustic wave include,
but are not limited to, the frequency, amplitude, intensity of the
acoustic wave, and the time during which the fluid is exposed to
the acoustic wave. Moreover, the magnitudes of the physical
parameters of the acoustic wave chosen for the treatment depend on
the flow rate of the process fluid and the chemical and/or
electrochemical parameters of the process water-based fluid.
[0108] The 1:3 relation is explained by a level of activation of
the oxygen molecules dissolved in the process water-based fluid
located in the layers 21. Specifically, this relation is determined
by a total energetic balance of the fluid that is formed in the
layers 21 during the propagation of the acoustic wave. The
Applicants believe that the total energetic balance of the fluid
depends on the total concentration of hydroxide radicals which can
be formed in the layers 21, the types of the hydroxide radicals,
the rates of the reactions (1)-(7) and the products of these
reactions. The 1:3 relation between the triplet to singlet oxygen
concentrations can be monitored by various known techniques, such
as cytopherometry, electronic spectrophotometry, various techniques
measuring redox potentials and/or electric conductivity, etc. For
monitoring purposes, when desired, the apparatus of the present
invention can be equipped with the corresponding device(s) (not
shown).
[0109] The total energetic balance of the process water-based fluid
in the layers 21 can, for example, be determined on the basis of
the changes of the concentration of any one of the hydroxide
radicals. Preferably, radicals HO.sub.2. can be used, since these
radicals are highly reactive with molecular oxygen O.sub.2 (see,
for example reactions (4) and (6)). These reactions result in a
significant increase of the fluid electric conductivity and in a
significant change in the spectrum of the optic absorption of the
fluid. For example, changes of the peaks of the bands 230
nanometers and 240 nanometers in the optic absorption are related
to the changes of the concentration of HO.sub.2. and O.sub.2,
respectively. The changes of the HO.sub.2. concentration depend on
the concentration of the oxygen molecules in the fluid and on the
energetic state of the oxygen molecules.
[0110] It is believed by the Applicants that the 1:3 relation
between the triplet to singlet oxygen concentrations corresponds to
an optimal condition for trapping radicals dissolved in the fluid,
and thereby provides maximal reactivity of the HO.sub.2. radicals.
The applicants found that a maximal output of the radicals can be
increased from a value of about 15 ions per 100 eV (that
corresponds to the case of uncontrolled oxygen activation) to the
value of about 120 ions per 100 eV (when the 1:3 relation is
fulfilled). A control of the changes of the concentration of
radicals HO.sub.2. can, for example, be provided by measuring the
changes of the concentrations of hydrogen in radicals. For example,
this concentration should be about 0.1 mol/l.
[0111] It was found by the Applicant that the increase of oxygen
concentration in the fluid under the acoustic wave treatment should
not exceed a predetermined value that, inter alia, depends on the
quality of the treated fluid. For example, when the oxygen
concentration exceeds the predetermined value and the 1:3 relation
is disturbed, the maximal output of the radicals can drop down from
about 120 ions per 100 eV to the value of about 5 ions per 100 eV
or even less.
[0112] Turning back to FIG. 1, in operation, the inlet sensing
assembly 172 measures chemical and/or electro-chemical properties
of the process water-based fluid. As described above, examples of
the electro-chemical properties include, but are not limited to,
pH, zeta potential, gamma potential, redox potential and electrical
conductivity of the fluid. In turn, examples of the chemical
properties include, but are not limited to, total suspended solids
(TSS), concentration, total organic content (TOC), color index,
total hardness, carbonate hardness, oxidizability, iron
concentration, dissolved oxygen concentration, ammonia
concentration, nitrite concentration, nitrate concentration,
fluorine concentration, manganese concentration, silicium
concentration, carbon dioxide concentration, sulfate concentration,
chloride concentration, alkalinity, and dry residue content.
[0113] Magnitudes of the measured chemical and/or electro-chemical
properties of the fluid are provided to the controller 171 together
with the required magnitudes of the properties which the fluid
should obtain after the treatment. The required magnitudes of the
chemical and/or electro-chemical properties can, for example be
selected in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO)
standards for drinking water.
[0114] In operation, the controller 171 analyzes these data and
generates control signals to control, inter alia, operation of the
acoustic vibrator 16. According to one embodiment, the analysis of
the data by the controller 171 includes calculation of the acoustic
wave parameters. In the first approximation, a look-up calibration
table establishing a relationship between the chemical and/or
electro-chemical properties and the acoustic wave parameters can be
used for tuning the acoustic vibrator 16.
[0115] An example of such a look-up table is shown in Table 1. In
accordance with Table 1, any parameter selected from TSS, TOC and
Redox potential can be selected for obtaining the corresponding
frequency, amplitude, intensity of the acoustic wave, and the time
during which the fluid should be exposed to the acoustic wave. It
should be understood that various approximation algorithms can be
employed for calculation of more precise values of the wave
parameters.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Look-up calibration table establishing a
relationship between the chemical and/or electro-chemical
properties and the acoustic wave parameters Process water- based
fluid Parameters of the acoustic vibrator characteristics Redox
Fre- TSS TOC Potential quency Intensity Amplitude Time (mg/l)
(mg/l) (mV) (kHz) (W/cm.sup.2) (.mu.m) (sec) 0.5 1.75 -4.82 28.0
0.80 1.0 4-6 1.0 2.37 -5.01 25.0 1.10 1.5 5-8 1.5 2.56 -5.04 23.0
1.35 2.0 6-9 10.0 4.31 -5.08 35.0 2.00 3.0 12-20 20.0 5.87 -5.12
40.0 2.50 2.9 30-60 30.0 6.97 -5.27 40.0 3.00 3.1 9-180
[0116] For the calculation of the precise values, known physical
relationships between the wave parameters can be used.
Specifically, the acoustic energy W can be estimated as a sum of a
kinetic energy of the oscillating region and a potential energy of
the elastic deformation of the acoustic environment. An intensity I
of an acoustic wave propagating through an area S can be defined as
an acoustic energy W divided by the area S and the propagation time
t, to wit:
I=W/(St).
[0117] In turn, the intensity I of acoustic wave depends on the
oscillation amplitude A, value of an alternating acoustic pressure
and the velocity V of the oscillating elements. A relationship
between the acoustic intensity I and the amplitude A can be
obtained by:
I=(.rho.C.omega..sup.2A.sup.2)/2
where .rho. is the environmental density, C is the propagation
speed of the acoustic wave (sound speed), .omega. is the angular
frequency, and A is the oscillated amplitude. Further, a
relationship between the intensity I and the alternating acoustic
pressure P can be determined as I=P/(2.rho.C). Finally, a
relationship between the acoustic intensity I and the velocity V of
the oscillating elements is obtained by I=(.rho.CV.sup.2)/2.
[0118] A power N of an acoustic generator can be obtained by the
multiplication of the acoustic intensity I by the emitting area T
of the emitting head of the acoustic generator, to wit: N=IT. The
energy adsorbed by a volume V of the environment is defined as a
physical dose D. The dose D can be obtained by D=(ItS)/V, where I
is the acoustic intensity, S is the area exposed to the acoustic
wave and t is the time of exposing the volume V to the acoustic
wave. It should be noted that the dose D estimated in accordance
with the relation described above is an averaged value of the dose;
whereas the value of the dose in some specific areas can differ
from the average value owing to a non-uniform distribution of the
acoustic energy in the environment.
[0119] Moreover, it should be noted that during the acoustic wave
propagation the intensity I of the acoustic wave decreases as a
function of distance from the emitting source in accordance with
the following relationship:
I=I.sub.0e.sup.-2ax,
where I.sub.0 is the initial acoustic intensity, x is the distance
from the emitting source, and a is the coefficient of acoustic
absorption in the environment.
[0120] Referring to FIG. 3, there is provided a schematic view of
an apparatus 30 for separation of a purified fluid from a process
water-based fluid containing one or more contaminating components,
according to another embodiment of the present invention. The
apparatus 30 includes a housing 31, the acoustic wave vibrator 16
adapted for generating acoustic waves within the process
water-based fluid in the housing 31, and a filter unit 32 disposed
in the housing 31 for filtering the pre-filtered water-based fluid
obtained after passing the process water-based fluid through the
layers 21 formed by the acoustic wave vibrator 16. The housing 31
includes an inlet port 311 for receiving the process water-based
fluid, and a sludge port 314 for discharge of the sludge fluid.
[0121] In operation, the process water-based fluid flows through
the inlet pipe 13, and enters the housing 31 through the inlet port
311. After a separation procedure, as will be described
thereinafter, the purified fluid flows out of the housing 31
through the outlet port 312 into an outlet pipe 35. The sludge
fluid is collected from the sludge port 314 and fed into the
sludge-collection pipe 14. When desired, the sludge-collection pipe
14 can be associated with a wastewater system (not shown) where the
sludge fluid can be treated as described hereinbefore.
[0122] Preferably, the controllable inlet valve 131, the
controllable outlet valve 132 and the controllable sludge valve 133
are disposed in the vicinity of the inlet port 311, the outlet port
312 and the sludge port 313, respectively.
[0123] The acoustic wave vibrator 16 is configured and operable for
generating a controllable acoustic wave. According to one
embodiment of the present invention, the acoustic wave vibrator 16
includes a generator 161, a transducer 163 coupled to the generator
161 via a connecting line 162, and a vibrating element 165 coupled
to the transducer 163 via a transmitting line 164. The vibrating
element 165 is associated with the filter unit 32 for vibrating the
filter unit. The configuration and principles of operation of the
acoustic vibrator 16 and its components (161-165 in FIG. 1) are
described above with reference to FIG. 1.
[0124] According to one embodiment, the vibrating element 165 is
mechanically attached to the filter unit 32 so it can participate
in vibrations together with the vibrating element 165 and produce
acoustic waves within the process water-based fluid. As was
described above with reference to FIG. 2, the acoustic waves can
create the layers 21 within the fluid that have an increased second
viscosity, when compared to the viscosity of the process
water-based fluid at the inlet port. According to this embodiment,
the layers 21 can be formed in the vicinity of the filter unit 32,
and include hydroxide radicals and various forms of oxygen that can
oxidize the contaminating components, and thereby cause their
coagulation. Consequently, the process water-based fluid, after
passing through these layers, is divided into a pre-filtered fluid
and a sludge fluid.
[0125] As described above, the filter unit 32 is disposed in the
flow of the pre-filtered fluid downstream of the layers 21. The
filter unit 32 is configured and operated for filtering and
separation of contaminating components in the pre-filtered fluid
which are left after passing the process water-based fluid through
the layers.
[0126] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the filter unit
32 is a tubular filter disposed within the housing 31 in the flow
of the pre-filtered fluid. The flow of the pre-filtered fluid
passes into an inner space 321 of the tubular body of the filter
unit through filtering walls 322. The filtering walls 322 can, for
example, include pores for impeding passage of the contaminating
components remaining after passing the fluid through the layers 21
thereby obtaining the purified fluid inside the filter unit 32.
Further, the purified fluid flows out from the filter unit 32 to
the outlet pipe 312 coupled to the filter unit 32 for discharge of
the purified fluid.
[0127] It should be understood that the filter unit 32 is not
limited to any particular implementation. Examples of the filter
units include, but are not limited to, one or more filters selected
from single media filters, multi-media filters, diatomaceous earth
filters, cartridge filters, membrane filters, granular filters,
etc. When desired, any combination of the filters of various types
can be used.
[0128] According to a further embodiment, the housing 31 includes a
flow damper 37 disposed within the flow of the process water-based
fluid downstream of the inlet port 111. The flow damper 19 can
include any flow control unit (not shown) that is configured and
operable to produce a substantially laminar flow of the process
water-based fluid through the housing on the macroscopic scale
level.
[0129] According to a further embodiment, the apparatus 30
comprises a control system 17 configured for controlling the
operation of the acoustic vibrator 16, the inlet valve 131 and/or
the outlet valve 132, as described above with reference to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The configuration and principles of
operation of the control system 17 and its components (171-173 in
FIG. 1) are described above with reference to FIG. 1.
EXAMPLES
[0130] The essence of the present invention can be better
understood from the following non-limiting examples which are
intended to illustrate the present invention and to teach a person
of the art how to make and use the invention. These examples are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention or its protection
in any way.
Example 1
[0131] Process water from Geneva Lake probed in Geneva
(Switzerland) was treated by the method and apparatus, according to
one embodiment of the present invention. No preliminary mechanical,
physicochemical or biological purification of the process water was
performed in the treatment. The acoustic wave parameters of the
apparatus were set as follows: the frequency of the acoustic wave
was 15.3 kHz, the amplitude of the acoustic wave was 1.2
micrometers, the intensity of the acoustic wave was 0.72
Watt/cm.sup.2 and the treatment time was 0.03 seconds.
[0132] The chemical and electro-chemical properties of the process
water and the pre-filtered fluid obtained after passing through the
layers formed by the acoustic wave (before filtration with a filter
unit) are presented in Table 2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Exemplary chemical and electro-chemical
properties of the probed process water and the pre-filtered fluid
obtained by a method and apparatus of the present invention in
accordance with one embodiment Process Pre-filtered No Item fluid,
mg/l fluid, mg/l 1 Total suspended solids (TSS), mg/l 30 0.6 2
Color index, deg 45 17 3 pH 7.05 7.13 4 Total hardness, mEq/l 5.35
5.35 5 Carbonate hardness, microEqu/l 4.8 4.8 6 Oxidizability,
O.sub.2 mg/l 8.5 6.1 7 Total iron, mg/l 0.25 0.12 8 Dissolved
Oxygen, mg/l 8.0 4.92 9 Ammonia, mg/l 1.2 1.2 10 Nitrites, mg/l
0.001 0.001 11 Nitrates, mg/l 1.5 1.5 12 Alkalinity, mg * Eq/l 4.0
3.57 13 Fluorine, mg/l 0.55 0.55 14 Manganese, mg/l 0.02 0.02 15
Silicium, mg/l 2.0 1.81 16 Carbon dioxide, mg/l 6.5 3.62 17
Sulfates, mg/l 81.0 81.0 18 Chlorides, mg/l 22.0 22.0 19 Dry
residue, mg/l 438.0 217.0
[0133] As can be seen from Example 1, the treatment of the probed
water results in essential reduction of the concentration of
contaminating components (e.g., TSS changes from 30 mg/l to 0.6
mg/l) and dissolved gases (e.g., concentration of oxygen changes
from 8 mg/l to 4.92 mg/l).
Example 2
[0134] Process water from Vltava River probed in Prague (Czech
Republic) was treated by the same method and apparatus that was
used in Example 1. No preliminary mechanical, physicochemical or
biological purification of the process water was performed in the
treatment. The acoustic wave parameters of the apparatus were set
as follows: the frequency of the acoustic wave was 22 kHz, the
amplitude of the acoustic wave was 2 micrometers, the intensity of
the acoustic wave was 1 Watt/cm.sup.2 and the treatment time was 2
seconds.
[0135] The parameters of the process water-based fluid and
pre-filtered fluid are presented in Table 3.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Exemplary chemical and electro-chemical
properties of the probed process water and the pre-filtered fluid
obtained by a method and apparatus of the present invention in
accordance with one embodiment Process Pre-filtered No Item fluid,
mg/l fluid, mg/l 1 Total suspended solids, mg/l 65 1.2 2 Color
index, deg 51 18 3 pH 7.2 7.39 4 Total hardness, mEq/l 0.9 0.9 5
Carbonate hardness, microEqu/l 0.8 0.8 6 Oxidizability, O.sub.2
mg/l 12.5 7.2 7 Total iron, mg/l 0.4 0.16 8 Dissolved Oxygen, mg/l
7.3 3.45 9 Ammonia, mg/l 2.5 2.5 10 Nitrites, mg/l 0.005 0.005 11
Nitrates, mg/l 5.6 5.6 12 Alkalinity, mg * Eq/l 0.8 0.2 13
Fluorine, mg/l 0.76 0.76 14 Manganese, mg/l 0.1 0.1 15 Silicium,
mg/l 8.3 8.0 16 Carbon dioxide, mg/l 3.0 1.9 17 Sulfates, mg/l 4.2
4.2 18 Chlorides, mg/l 3.8 3.8 19 Dry residue, mg/l 66.0 47.0
[0136] As can be seen from Example 2, the treatment of the probed
water results in essential reduction of the concentration of
contaminating components (e.g., TSS changes from 65 mg/l to 1.2
mg/l) and dissolved gases (e.g., concentration of oxygen changes
from 7.3 mg/l to 3.45 mg/l).
[0137] It should be noted that the apparatus of the present
invention may be employed only when the chemical and
electrochemical properties of the fluid under treatment are within
a certain predetermined range of values. Otherwise, a pre-treatment
of the process water-based fluid can be required. Specifically, the
pre-treatment of the process water-based fluid can involve
predetermined mechanical, physicochemical and/or biological
treatment required for adjusting the chemical and electrochemical
properties so they would fall within the predetermined range of
values. The pre-treatment can include flocculation, aggregation,
coagulation, oxidation, alkalization, disinfection, preservation,
degasification, filtration of the suspended contaminating
components and other processes.
[0138] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is schematically illustrated
a non-limiting example of a system 40 for treatment of the process
water-based fluid employing pre-treatment. The system 40 includes a
manifold 411 having an inlet port 410 for receiving the process
water-based fluid and an outlet port 415 for discharging the
purified fluid. For the purpose of pre-treatment, the system 40
includes a flocculation unit 42 configured for agglomeration of the
contaminating components to produce buoyant floc, and a pressure
filter 44 configured for a pre-filtration of the process
water-based fluid. Finally, the system 40 includes an apparatus 45
for separation of a purified fluid from a process water-based fluid
that should be configured and operable according to any one of the
embodiments described above and shown in FIGS. 1-3.
[0139] In operation, the process water-based fluid ingresses
through the inlet port 410 into the manifold 411, and after an
entire treatment procedure, the purified fluid egresses from the
manifold 411 through the outlet port 415 and can be delivered to a
consumer (not shown). When desired, the purified fluid can be
discharged into a collecting tank 47 through a collecting pipe
416.
[0140] The flocculation unit 42 can, for example, be used for
agglomeration of the contaminating components containing heavy
metals. The flocculation unit 42 is arranged within the manifold
411 in a flow of the process water-based fluid. The flocculation
unit 42 can be a known apparatus configured for and operable to
introduce an effective amount of various flocculating chemicals
into the process water-based fluid in order to produce buoyant floc
that incorporates the contaminating components. Examples of the
flocculating chemicals that can be introduced into the process
water-based fluid include, but are not limited to, metal salts,
metal scavengers and flocculating polymers. For instance, the metal
salt can be an aluminum salt. The metal scavengers can, for
example, include metal sulfides, metal carbonates, metal
thiocarbonates, metal thiocarbamate, mercaptans and combinations
thereof. An example of the flocculating polymer includes, but is
not limited to, an ethylene dichloride ammonia polymer.
[0141] The pressure filter 44 is configured and operable for a
pressure pre-filtration of the process water-based fluid. According
to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the pressure filter 44 is
disposed in the flow of the process water-based fluid downstream of
the flocculation unit 42. The pressure filter 44 is a known device
which can provide an elevated pressure at the entrance of the
filter. The use of pressure filter 44 can be required for the
treatment of the process water-based fluid containing extremely
high concentrations of the contaminating components in the form of
suspended solids and emulsified liquids, such as hydrocarbons, oils
and greases.
[0142] According to one embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the system 40
includes a control system 48 coupled to a controllable inlet valve
491 and a controllable process valve 492, and configured for
controlling operation thereof. The control system 48 can be
adjusted either automatically or manually to control operation of
the controllable inlet valve 491 and the controllable process valve
492 to regulate flow rate of an original process water-based fluid
and a pre-treated process water-based fluid, respectively.
[0143] According to one embodiment, the control system 48 includes
a controller 480, an inlet sensing assembly 481 coupled to the
controller 480, and a pre-treatment sensing assembly 482 coupled to
the controller 480. The controller 480 is an electronic device that
can, inter alia, generate control signals to control operation of
the controllable inlet valve 491 and/or the controllable process
valve 492.
[0144] The inlet sensing assembly 481 is arranged at the inlet port
410 of the manifold 411 and configured for measuring the chemical
and/or electro-chemical properties of the original process
water-based fluid. The pre-treatment sensing assembly 482 is
arranged within the flow of the pre-treated fluid upstream of the
apparatus 45. The pre-treatment sensing assembly 482 is configured
for measuring the properties of the process water-based fluid after
the preliminary treatment by the flocculation unit 42 and the
pressure filter 44. The sensing assemblies 481 and 482 can include
one or more chemical and/or electro-chemical sensors configured for
measuring of chemical and/or electro-chemical properties of the
process water-based fluid and generating inlet and pre-treated
sensor signals indicative of the fluid properties. The inlet and
pre-treated sensor signals can be relayed to the controller 480 via
a connecting wire or wirelessly.
[0145] Examples of the electro-chemical properties include, but are
not limited to, pH, zeta potential, gamma potential, redox
potential and electrical conductivity of the fluid. In turn,
examples of the chemical properties include, but are not limited
to, total suspended solids (TSS) concentration, total organic
content (TOC), color index, total hardness, carbonate hardness,
oxidizability, iron concentration, dissolved oxygen concentration,
ammonia concentration, nitrite concentration, nitrate
concentration, fluorine concentration, manganese concentration,
silicium concentration, carbon dioxide concentration, sulfate
concentration, chloride concentration, alkalinity, and dry residue
content.
[0146] When desired to enhance the fluid treatment, the system 40
can further include a reagent tank 43 coupled to the manifold 411
and configured to supply additional chemical reagents in the
process water-based fluid, as will be described below. Examples of
the chemical reagents contain, but are not limited to, coagulants,
flocculants, oxidants, acids, bases, disinfectants, preservative
agents and deodorants in various combinations.
[0147] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, these reagents
can be supplied into the manifold 411 via a dosing pipe 431 or
directly into the apparatus 45 via a dosing pump 432. The supply of
the reagents in the manifold 411 and in the apparatus 45 can be
controlled by reagent supply valves 433 and 434, respectively. The
supply of the reagents can be controlled by the control system 48.
In this case, the control system 48 can be coupled to the reagent
tank 43 and/or to the supply valves 433 and 434. In operation, the
control system 48 is responsive to the inlet and pre-treated sensor
signals produced by the sensing assemblies 481-482, and is
configured to generate inlet and pre-treated control signals to the
supply valves 433 and/or 434 for controlling the release of the
chemical reagents from the reagent tank 43 therethrough,
respectively.
[0148] The method, apparatus and system of the present invention
have many of the advantages of the techniques mentioned
theretofore, while simultaneously overcoming some of the
disadvantages normally associated therewith.
[0149] The method and apparatus of the present invention is highly
economical and operates with minimal losses of energy and
chemicals. It is believed by the inventors that the technique of
present invention allows reducing a total amount of chemical
reagents utilized during the treatment of fluids, when compared to
operation of conventional systems known in the art. For example,
the method of the present invention allows increasing the
capabilities of contaminating components to coagulate and
flocculate, and thereby to decrease the amount of the coagulative
reagents required for the fluid treatment, when compared to
conventional techniques.
[0150] For example, when aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3) or
ferric hydroxide (Fe(OH).sub.3) are used for coagulation of
contaminating components, the method and apparatus of the present
invention allows lessening the time of the wastewater treatment by
half.
[0151] Due to the fact that most of the contaminating components
are settled down as sludge before reaching the filter, the method
and apparatus of the present invention prolongs effective working
time and exploitation efficiency of filter units utilized with the
fluid treatment systems. Moreover, the waste of water and cleaning
reagents used for flushing the filters can be significantly
decreased. In addition, the technique of the present invention
allows passage of process fluid through the filter at higher rates,
thereby to augment the efficiency of the fluid purification
process.
[0152] It should be noted that the method and apparatus of the
present invention can be applied for disinfection of the process
water-based fluid. The term `disinfection` is construed here in a
broad meaning and is related to a process where a significant
percentage of pathogenic organisms are killed or controlled. The
disinfection of the process fluid provides a degree of protection
from contact with pathogenic organisms including those causing
cholera, polio, typhoid, hepatitis and a number of other bacterial,
viral and parasitic diseases.
[0153] The apparatus and method of the present invention may be
suitable for effective treatment of any water-based fluid from
suspended contaminating components such as oil products,
detergents, phenols, dyes, complexons, complexonates, aromatic
compounds, unsaturated organic compounds, aldehydes, organic acids,
polymers, hydrosols, biological particles and colloidal matter.
[0154] The apparatus and method of the present invention may be
suitable, for example, for any private or industrial application
requiring treatment of any water-based fluid including groundwater,
surface water, wastewater, industrial effluent, municipal sewage,
sewerage, recycled water, tertiary wastewater, landfill leachate,
saline water, milk, wine, beer and juice.
[0155] Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limiting.
[0156] Finally, it should be noted that the word "comprising" as
used throughout the appended claims is to be interpreted to mean
"including but not limited to".
[0157] It is important, therefore, that the scope of the invention
is not construed as being limited by the illustrative embodiments
set forth herein. Other variations are possible within the scope of
the present invention as defined in the appended claims. Other
combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements
and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present
claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related
application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed
to different combinations or directed to the same combinations,
whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the
original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject
matter of the present description.
* * * * *